Finding the right books for teenage boys can be a challenge. At a stage when many are developing their identities, navigating new responsibilities, and balancing academic and social pressures, reading can often take a back seat. 

In an age of constant digital distraction, helping boys discover books that resonate with their interests is more important than ever. This list brings together engaging, thought-provoking and accessible titles designed to spark back that love for reading. 

The distinction between Teen and YA is nothing more than a personal preference. While books do not have age restrictions, we advise guardians to double check the content of the books themselves to make sure they are suitable for younger readers. Our YA/Teen ratings are merely a guideline. 

Alex Rider by Antony Horowitz (Teen)

Fourteen-year-old Alex Rider's life is turned upside down when he discovers his uncle, a supposed banker, was actually an MI6 agent who has been murdered. Alex is blackmailed and pressured into completing his uncle's last mission, which pulls him into the world of espionage and adventure; becoming a reluctant but resourceful spy, using his wits and a variety of secret gadgets to complete missions around the globe.

This book is part of a series of fast-paced novels with action-packed plots that create a "movie-like" feel and gripping plots that keep them on the edge of their seats. If you like the sound of this one, there are 11 other books in the series!

SkyWake by Jamie Russell (Teen)

Fifteen year-old Casey Henderson is obsessed with smash-hit game SkyWake. Little does she realise that it’s actually an alien training tool created by a mysterious extra-terrestrial species. When the aliens swoop down on a national gaming tournament, it’s up to Casey and her teammates to do something about it. It soon becomes clear that the aliens are abducting the best gamers to fight in a distant alien war across the galaxy, and they’ve taken her little brother. Casey’s gaming skills are best hope of stopping the aliens and rescuing her brother, but first she and her teammates must learn to work together in real life.

This exhilarating futuristic adventure is a fast-paced, thrilling read, perfect for gamers and sci-fi fans. If you like the sound of this one, this is the first book in a trilogy. 

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (YA)

In the not-too-distant future, humans have cured hunger, disease, war, crime, even death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end a life, and they are commanded to do so to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are both chosen to be apprentices to a scythe– something neither of them wants. Forced together, they must perfect the skill of taking a life, competing against each other for just one scythe position. But then it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to kill the loser...

The series features excellent and detailed world-building, creating a believable and fascinating future society while keeping readers hooked with its original and thought-provoking premise and compelling character development. This is the first book in the series.

HappyHead by Josh Silver (YA)

When Seb is offered a place on a radical retreat designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness, he is determined to change how people see him and make his parents proud. But as he finds himself drawn to the enigmatic Finn, Seb starts to question the true nature of the challenges they must undergo. The deeper into the programme the boys get, the more disturbing the assessments become, until it’s clear there may be no escape.

Squid Game meets They Both Die at the End in the first instalment of a thrilling new YA series. HappyHead has a gripping plot, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes around mental health and societal pressure.

Robin Hood by Robert Muchamore (Teen)

When his dad is framed for a robbery, Robin and his brother Little John are hounded out of Locksley and must learn to survive in the Sherwood forest, stretching three hundred kilometres and sheltering the free spirits and outlaws. But Robin is determined to do more than survive. Small, fast and deadly with a bow, he hatches a plan to join forces with Marion Maid, harness his inimitable tech skills and strike a blow against Gisborne and the Sheriff.

This book is a modern, action-packed retelling of the legend, where a tech-savvy Robin Hood and his allies fight to make the world a better place in a near-future Britain. The first of a series, these books are characterised by fast-paced plots, high-tech gadgetry, and a focus on social and moral issues relevant to young readers.

Special Forces Cadets by Chris Ryan (Teen)

Max in a orphan, bullied at school and counting down until he is 18 and can enlist in the army. There he hopes he will find the family he's never had. The one good thing Max does have in his life is his involvement in cadets. Being outdoors undertaking rescue drills and training operations is his happy place. When Max is involved in a real-life rescue and proves what a calm, capable and compassionate young man he is, the Special Forces Cadets headhunt him and whisk him off to selection camp. There Max has to survive the gruelling initiations and the barely adequate camp food and earn a place in the top 5 cadets in order to pass.

If you want a fast-paced, easy read full of action and adventure then this is the book for you. Chris Ryan is former SAS so he definitely knows his stuff. This is the first instalment in the series. 

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks (YA)

The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of students―J.B., Ramón, and Trey―emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive...and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?

Promise Boys is a blockbuster, dark academia, murder mystery about three teens of color who must investigate their principal’s death to clear their own names. This page-turning thriller is perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson, best described as The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying.

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For more recommendations, check out our extensive book list on Bookshop.org.